Fitness icon Jack LaLanne has a lifelong goal of reaching his 100th birthday (and beyond), while spending his career making others smile and feel better.
His motto was “Work out and eat right and you will retain youthfulness and vigor,” a mantra that served him well until his death at the age of 96 at his home in Morro Bay, California, in January 2011. He died as a result of respiratory failure after a bout with pneumonia.
Jack’s brother Norman LaLanne predeceased him in September 2005 at the age of 97.
Jack always said, “I can’t afford to die, it would ruin my image.”
I have had the good fortune to count Jack and Elaine, his wife of more than 50 years, as friends during my writing career. It is always a favorite keepsake moment during the holidays to receive the annual Christmas card and newsletter from the couple, and in recent years, from Elaine and family.
Jack must be smiling from the clouds, knowing that earlier this month, on March 19, his wife Elaine, aka “Lala,” celebrated her 100th birthday with a party and cake level organized by the Health and Fitness Association during the organization’s annual fitness industry trade show this month at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego. Dateline NBC correspondent Keith Morrison did the cake presentation honors as well as helping Elaine be inducted into the HFA Hall of Fame. A second birthday celebration for family and friends was held later including a small coconut chiffon cake decorated with 100 candles crowning the icing and white chocolate shavings, along with additional cupcakes given out to the guests.
I first met the LaLannes in March 2004 while they were in Chicago at McCormick Place, touting their line of juicers at the annual housewares show. Jack’s advice is the same as it was a few decades ago, encouraging everyone to slowly change bad habits into good habits, such as convincing his wife Elaine to quit smoking 50 years ago and replace the practice with daily exercise incentives.
Besides creating proven and popular exercise routines, long before the late Richard Simmons or Jane Fonda’s routines, Jack was watched by millions of people who tuned in to his television show from 1951 to 1985.
He is an advocate of drinking plenty of water, and once told me he would eat at least 10 raw vegetables and five pieces of fresh fruit daily. The menu also consists of fish, egg whites and high fiber foods. Of course, he also urges others to skip caffeine, refined sugar and Elaine’s former nemesis, cigarettes.
“If a man makes it, don’t eat it” is one of Jack’s favorite mottos.
In the 1980s, he also owned more than 200 Jack LaLanne European Health Spas across the country, including throughout Chicagoland. However, in the late 1980s, he licensed the franchise and eventually sold all of his health clubs to the Bally Company, which by 1995 became known as Bally Total Fitness.
Jack always maintained a great sense of humor, which he also credited for adding to his longevity. In 1966, having become a household name, he appeared as himself in an episode of “The Addams Family” for the plot that he was hired by Uncle Fester, who was trying to get fit to impress his romantic gal interest. For a scene in the campy 1966 feature film adaptation of “Batman,” he starred as himself, leading a rooftop exercise class for a group of bikini-clad women, causing the Dynamic Duo to blush when they interrupted the fitness session.
Ranking among her favorite guest star moments was a skit on the popular CBS television show in the 1970s hosted by Carol Burnett, directed to portray a strong woman at home trying to follow fellow cast member Lyle Wagoner’s workout plan in his guise as Jack, spoofing his TV fitness show.
After Jack dies, Elaine’s next Christmas card tries to explain her loss.
“I have not only lost my husband and a great American icon, but the dearest friend and partner anyone could ever hope for,” Elaine said.
She always said that even once she joined her husband “in heaven,” Jack’s name and legacy will live on for many years thanks to his large family of children and grandchildren. For example, one of LaLanne’s holiday cards features the wedding of the couple’s son Jon to his wife Lora from October 6, 2007, in Santa Monica with the entire extended family in formals surrounding the bride and groom, all flexing their muscles for the camera.
One of Jack’s favorite smoothie recipes is called “The Green Machine.” Even if the ingredients are meant to be squeezed through one of the juicing machines that have their name, the same final result can be achieved with a few additional steps when using a traditional blender with the puree setting, then squeezing the liquid from the contents through a sieve, colander or strainer. Adding a splash of water helps for proper consistency before chilling or serving over crushed ice, or an option of blending juice with some ice cubes before serving as a traditional “frozen smoothie”.
Columnist Philip Potempa has published four cookbooks and is a weekly radio host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at philpotempa@gmail.com or send your questions to: From the Farm, PO Box 68, San Pierre, Ind. 46374.
Jack LaLanne’s Green Machine Health Drink
Makes 1 pint
MATERIAL
1/2 bunch kale (stems and all)
2 ribs of celery
1 whole Granny Smith apple sliced (peeled and whole)
1/2 cucumber peeled
1 inch piece of fresh ginger root
guidance
Rinse all ingredients and chop to fit inside the container of an electric blender.
Place it on the “blend” setting and then the “puree” setting until all the ingredients are broken down and liquid is visible.
Strain the contents of the blender through a strainer or colander to remove the juice and liquid components. The pulp can be removed.
A splash of water can be added to the liquid collected for the desired consistency and then poured over crushed ice to serve. The liquid can also be returned to the blender and 3-4 ice cubes added to blend into a traditional icy “frozen smoothie”.
The calorie content of an 8-ounce glass of the green drink is about 150 calories. If ripe banana is added for more desired sweetness, the calorie content for an 8-ounce glass is 250 calories.
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